Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

Regional discussion and conditions reports for the Northern Rockies. Please post partners requests and trip plans in the Northern Rockies Climbing Partners section.
User Avatar
aedwards

 
Posts: 211
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:00 pm
Thanked: 7 times in 6 posts

Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

by aedwards » Tue Jun 28, 2011 10:33 pm

Have plans to head into the central Wind Rivers in a couple weeks, around the Hailey Washakie pass areas.
Anyone been up there recently? I've heard that there is a lot of snow, and I'm assuming there will still be plenty when we get there.
If you have any more specific details, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks!

User Avatar
Arthur Digbee

 
Posts: 2280
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:03 pm
Thanked: 255 times in 173 posts

Re: Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

by Arthur Digbee » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:22 pm

No detailed information, but I just got back from driving to/from the Tetons both north and south of the Winds. LOTS of snow visible in Winds. Snowpack everywhere is still high, but melting (check flood conditions). As a point of reference in the Tetons: they were *skiing*, not hiking, Cascade Canyon last week at 7000 feet. (Trail was closed due to two bridges destroyed by floods.)
OCCUPY SUMMITPOST !

The following user would like to thank Arthur Digbee for this post
aedwards

User Avatar
aedwards

 
Posts: 211
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:00 pm
Thanked: 7 times in 6 posts

Re: Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

by aedwards » Wed Jun 29, 2011 3:08 pm

Thanks Arthur, good to know.
I guess we'll have to play it by ear. Mainly worried about flooding, as you mentioned, and the possibility of wet avalanches up high.
Anyone else?

User Avatar
Bill Reed

 
Posts: 534
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:46 pm
Thanked: 78 times in 59 posts

Re: Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

by Bill Reed » Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:38 pm

Haven't been there lately but from what I know, Arthur is right. If you're heading in there in two weeks you'll be dealing with a lot of snow. Snowpack in that range was in some places 200% of average with a lot of May accumulation. If you're prepared for it and set your goals with the snowpack in mind, you'll be all right.

Good luck!

The following user would like to thank Bill Reed for this post
aedwards

User Avatar
Arthur Digbee

 
Posts: 2280
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:03 pm
Thanked: 255 times in 173 posts

Re: Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

by Arthur Digbee » Thu Jun 30, 2011 3:57 am

I should add that slope, aspect and exposure to wind seem to matter a lot right now. We walked up Mount Washburn (10,200) using the Chittenden Road (north ridge), which had only a few patches of snow. I'm guessing the snow gets blown off that route.

The Dunraven Pass trail on the southwest looked like about three feet of snow on the switchbacks at the start of the trail.

So I'd see if you can get some local beta if snowpack varies so much on a single mountain. Maybe USFS rangers known something?
OCCUPY SUMMITPOST !

The following user would like to thank Arthur Digbee for this post
aedwards

User Avatar
phatty

 
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:23 pm
Thanked: 3 times in 2 posts

Re: Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

by phatty » Thu Jun 30, 2011 3:19 pm

At 9200 feet there is still 96" of snow on tetons.

Melt rates have been about 4-6" a day this week (70-80 degree temps). if it gets cold again you can expect it to freeze and last a little longer. Bottom line, still alot of snow to melt off...

The following user would like to thank phatty for this post
aedwards, Arthur Digbee

User Avatar
aedwards

 
Posts: 211
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:00 pm
Thanked: 7 times in 6 posts

Re: Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

by aedwards » Thu Jun 30, 2011 3:23 pm

Thanks, both of you.
Was looking at the Mt Washburn webcam yesterday, saw that there was spotty snow.

Also looking at Tetons webcams and the Wind River Range webcam in Pinedale.

Will be keeping an eye on reports, and calling the FS rangers too.

Thanks phatty, saw that too.
Hoping it melts some, stays stable, and doesn't flood anything...

Also I'll be hanging out in the Teton area from about the 19-25th, solo.
If anyone wants to hike or climb, let me know.
I don't climb too hard, or hike too fast, but can follow up to 9/10a, lead belay, lead easy stuff competently, clean gear, have some experience with multipitch, snow, ice, and glacier travel, and am not a jerk.


Return to Northern Rockies (ID, MT, WY)

 


  • Related topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests